Indianapolis, Ind. (June 26, 2016) – For the fifth year in a row, the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team will have exhibition matches at the USAV Girls’ Junior National Championship, starting today through June 29 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.
The roster of 36 was selected from the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts in February. The team has trained in Indianapolis six hours a day since June 21. On Friday the roster was divided into three teams of 12 via a draft. Today’s match will feature Team Red vs. Team Blue.
What can people expect?
“They’re going to see some great athletes, obviously these are among the best collegiate athletes in the country,” said Todd Dagenais, head coach of Team Blue and the University of Central Florida. “They’re going to see a lot of athleticism, a lot of passion and they’re going to see a lot of players they’re going to want to model their game after someday.”
People can also expect to see potential, future superstars.
“They all deserve to be here,” said Dennis Janzen, Team Red head coach, formerly of Fresno Pacific University. “They’re working hard. You never know how the next couple years are going to go, but the U.S. Olympic Team are going to have a number of kids who went through this program.”
The list of athletes who are program alumni include National Team players Kelly Murphy, Karsta Lowe, Rachael Adams, Tori Dixon, and Carli Lloyd.
“The mission of the program is for us to identify players who could potentially move their way up into the National Team pipeline even higher,” said Dagenais. “The focus right now is just fundamental skills, learning the USA terminology and getting better each day that we’re here.”
Coach Janzen, “The training has been outstanding. We’ve got a real committed group of young ladies. They’re learning what a USA Volleyball gym looks like, what it’s all about.”
“We’ll just see who emerges.”
2016 U.S. Collegiate National Team – Indianapolis
TEAM RED
Name (Position, Height, School, Club, Hometown)
1 – Tess Clark (MB, 6-3, Louisville, Arizona Revolution, Phoenix, Ariz.)
2 – Ashley Dusek (L, 5-7, Kentucky, Houston Skyline, East Bernard, Texas)
3 – Kristen Gengenbacher (S, 5-9, San Diego, Riverfront Bruisers, Quincy, Ill.)
6 – Jenna Potts (MB, 6-3, Pittsburgh, Delaware United, Bernville, Pa.)
7 – Olivia Rusek (OH, 5-11, Miami [Ohio], Wildcat Juniors, Skokie, Ill.)
15 – Kayla Haneline (MB, 6-2, Northern Iowa, Nebraska Elite, Plattsmouth, Neb.)
17 – Amelia Held (L, 5-9, Northern Iowa, St. Louis, CYC, Festus, Mo.)
23 – Kayla Ostrom (S, 5-9, Lipscomb, Circle City, Lafayette, Ind.)
24 – Brooke Sassin (OH, 6-0, Kansas State, Alamo Volleyball, San Antonio, Texas)
27 – Bryna Vogel (OPP, 6-0, Kansas State, Heartland Juniors, Clearwater, Kan.)
30 – Shelly Fanning (OPP, 6-2, Baylor, Texas Tornados, Houston, Texas)
36 – Teegen Van Gunst (OH, 6-0 Georgia Tech, Tsunami, Fayetteville, Ga.)
Head Coach: Dennis Janzen – formerly Head Coach, Fresno Pacific University
Asst. Coach: Kayla Cole – USA High Performance Program Coach
TEAM WHITE
Name (Position, Height, School, Club, Hometown)
1 – Amanda Carroll (OH, 5-10, Florida Gulf Coast, Albuquerque Rebels, Albuquerque, N.M.)
4 – Laura Larson (L, 5-6, Arizona, Minnesota One, Lakeville, Minn.)
5 – Kelsey O’Neill (MB, 6-1, Pittsburgh, Wildcat Juniors, Skokie, Ill.)
12 – Danielle Cuttino (OH, 6-4, Purdue, Circle City, Indianapolis, Ind.)
13 – Aubrey Edie (S, 6-0, Mississippi, Ozark Juniors, Fayetteville, Ark.)
14 – Erica Handley (S, 6-1, Minnesota, Northern Lights, Lakeville, Minn.)
16 – Katherine Hegarty (OPP, 6-2 Southern Methodist, Four Corners, Aztec, N.M.)
18 – Janelle Jenkins (OPP, 5-11, Louisville, Dallas Skyline Juniors, Southlake, Texas)
22 – Giovanna Milana (OH, 6-2, Maryland, No Club, Romeo, Mich.)
29 – Lynsey Wright (MB, 6-0, Missouri State, Rockwood Thunder, Glen Carbon, Ill.)
31 – Janelle Giordano (MB, 6-2, Southern Methodist, Tejas Volleyball, Keller, Texas)
33 – Katie Horton (OH, 6-1, Florida State, Premier Volleyball, Westland, Mich.)
Head Coach: Brian Doyon – Head Coach, University of Montana
Asst. Coach: Billy Ebel – Asst. Coach, Lipscomb University
TEAM BLUE
Name (Position, Height, School, Club, Hometown)
8 – Lauren Schad (MB, 6-2, San Diego, Black Hills Juniors, Rapid City, S.D.)
9 – Kayla Buford (MB, 6-2, Minnesota, Premier Volleyball, Canton, Mich.)
10 – Emily Butters (L, 5-8, Missouri State, Southwest Juniors, Richmond, Texas)
19 – Brittany Jessen (S, 5-9, South Dakota, Northern Lights, Mendota Heights, Minn.)
20 – Jaelyn Keene (MB, 6-2, Illinois State, Jacksonville Network, Jacksonville, Ill.)
21 – Taylor Louis (OH, 6-2, Marquette, Sky High, Skokie, Ill.)
25 – Cierra Simpson (L, 6-0, Colorado, Colorado Juniors, Colorado Springs, Colo.)
26 – Azariah Stahl (OH, 6-0, Purdue, Circle City, Elkhart, Ind.)
28 – Jaali Winters (OH, 6-2, Creighton, All Iowa Attacky, Ankeny, Iowa)
32 – Amanda Green (OPP, 6-1, Marquette, Sports Performance, Skokie, Ill.)
34 – Taylor Joachim (OPP, 6-4, Colorado, No Club, Baroda, Mich.)